Black is Only Acceptable When it is White

African American culture is only seen right when portrayed through white women. When black women embrace it, they are seen as “hood” or “trashy.”

In the works of Kimberle Crenshaw, “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color,” she talks about intersectionality in three forms; structural, political and representational. She breaks them down in terms of rape and abuse towards black women and women of color. A particular section that raised my attention was the representational intersectionality. Crenshaw presented situations where black women were being oppressed for their sexual representations. In general, Crenshaw presents how black sexuality is despised and white sexuality is favored. As much as black women may be negatively represented in some situations, there have been many black women that are praised for their contribution to society. One particular phrase in the reading by Crenshaw that stood out to me was the following:

“African American contributions that have been accepted by the mainstream culture are eventually absorbed as simply ‘American’ or found to be ‘universal.’ Other modes associated with African American culture that resist absorption remain distinctive and are either neglected or dismissed as ‘deviant.’” — Crenshaw

To connect this back Crenshaw, Kylie Jenner repeatedly presents a sexual image of herself yet is praised for doing so. However, when black women do so, they are labeled many insulting titles. Crenshaw related a similar scenario when describing the 2 Live Crew situation. She placed the obscenity prosecution of 2 Live Crew in comparison to Madonna’s actions.

“Madonna has acted out masturbation, portrayed the seduction of a priest, and insinuated group sex on stage, but she has never been prosecuted for obscenity.” — Crenshaw

Overall, there have been many instances where white women have adopted black culture and the mainstream culture has agreed to accept it. What I find wrong is the fact that black women are demoralized for embracing those features, while praise is given to the white women. In the end, the race is for white to become black and black to become white.